Scranton: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Elementary and secondary public education in Scranton is monitored by the Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit, one of many such agencies in Pennsylvania. The Scranton metropolitan educational system is considered to be among the best in the country. More than 60 percent of public high school graduates go on to higher education; the rate is even higher for private school graduates in the area. Average class sizes are small, with an average graduating class size of 187. More than 85 percent of high school seniors graduated in 2003, and that same year the attendance rate was over 93 percent.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Scranton public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: 8,560

Number of facilities elementary schools: 13

secondary schools: 3

high schools: 2

Student/teacher ratio: 15:1

Teacher salaries average: $54,315

Funding per pupil: $9,100 (2002-2003)

The Diocese of Scranton operates a parochial school system that spreads across multiple counties. Private schools include Yeshiva High School, Hebrew Day School, Baptist High School, and Scranton Preparatory School (Jesuit).

Public Schools Information: Scranton School District, 425 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503; telephone (570)348-3402. Pennsylvania Department of Education, 333 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17126; telephone (717)783-6788

Colleges and Universities

Scranton, known as the world's center of education by mail, is home to Education Direct, one of the oldest and largest distance learning institutions in the world. Founded in 1890, the school has provided credit courses and personal enrichment studies to more than 13 million students in nearly every country in the world. The University of Scranton, a Jesuit institution, is noted for its outstanding academics and progressive campus and technology. The school was founded in 1888 and serves approximately 4,800 students. For eight years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Scranton among the 10 finest master's universities in the North. Marywood University, a Catholic co-ed institution established in 1915, offers 60 academic programs including the arts, sciences, fine arts, social work, nursing, and music. Its 115-acre campus in suburban Scranton is said to be one of the prettiest in the state.

Scranton is also home to a technical school and a junior college. Lackawanna College, in operation for more than 100 years, offers associate's degrees in science, applied science, and arts, and also offers a variety of certificate programs for its 1,000 students. Johnson College offers twelve associate's degree programs and specializes in technical skills and general education. It boasts small class sizes and an attractive 65-acre campus. A number of other higher education institutions are located near Scranton, including Baptist Bible College, King's College, East Stroudsburg University, and Bloomsburg University.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Scranton Public Library is housed in the Albright Memorial Building, an early-Renaissance-design structure noted for its stained glass windows depicting the art of bookbinding and its marble floors and fireplaces. The library's holdings include thousands of volumes as well as U.S. government documents, compact and laser discs, and videotapes. The library maintains a special collection on local history; special services include free computer classes, teen and children's programs, and Books by Mail. The Lackawanna County Children's Library is housed in the renovated Marion M. Isaacs Building next to the main library; there are six other branches county-wide and a bookmobile servicing outlying areas.

The Lackawanna Historical Society Library also offers a wide range of research materials, much of it related to genealogy and local history. The library holds more than 6,000 books, more than 5,000 photographs, more than 1,200 maps, an extensive manuscript and scrapbook collection, and local newspapers.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library at the University of Scranton offers a collection of more than 450,000 books in a technology-rich environment. Its special collections include rare books and historical documents, and the library's electronic resources include an online catalog, 110 internet databases, and access to more than 13,000 full-text journals. Marywood College's library holds more than 200,000 volumes plus thousands of items on microform and various other media. It also offers a wide variety of computer training workshops.

Public Library Information: Albright Memorial Library, 500 Vine St., Scranton, PA, 18509; telephone (570)348-3000; fax (570)348-3020